dj bean

Looking at the healthy scratch debate and whether that was Marty Turco's last start

The Bruins received excellent news Sunday night when Rich Peverley finally made his return from a right knee sprain. Though the B's never made excuses over the last couple of months for their poor play that often saw a lack of scoring, it was obvious that the team would be better off once it got Peverley and Nathan Horton (concussion) back.

While there’s no telling when (if at all this season) Horton will be back, Peverley’s return means the Bruins are pretty close to what they’ll look like once the postseason begins. The versatile Peverley has returned to the lineup, and with him comes a solid option for any of the top three lines, as well as a plus-special teamer who logs minutes on both the power play and the penalty kill.

Peverley’s return also means the Bruins are no longer in play-whoever’s-there mode when it comes to filling out their lineup. With the 29-year-old Peverley good to go, coach Claude Julien will have a tough decision to make each game regarding who to make a healthy scratch.

On Sunday, that guy was Daniel Paille. The fourth-line forward, who has been the ultimate gamer for the B’s this season by bouncing back from a puck to the face, a concussion and an arm injury, is hardly an easy guy to scratch. His presence on the Merlot Line with Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton is valued highly by the Bruins, so much so that when Julien has tinkered with the lines during the team’s struggles at points this season, it has often been that trio that’s been left alone.

When Peverley returned to the ice a couple weeks ago and began showing strides as he worked his way back, it seemed Jordan Caron, Benoit Pouliot and Brian Rolston were the guys whose spots could be in jeopardy, but recent play changed that. Caron had been a first-line player in recent games for the Bruins, and Rolston and Pouliot have seen success on the third line with Chris Kelly. Rolston’s numbers have been off the charts of late, as the veteran forward has registered 11 points (three goals, eight assists) over his last six games.

On Sunday, Peverley picked up where he left off for the B’s. He logged 16:44 of ice time, playing 2:11 on the power play and 1:27 on the penalty kill with a pair of shots on goal. He was on the ice for Zdeno Chara’s goal and finished the night a plus-1. In the final shift of the game, with the Ducks desperately trying to tie what was a one-goal game, Peverley was out there with the Bergeron line to secure the victory. If anyone had forgotten Peverley’s value since he got hurt on Feb. 15, his first game back served as a pretty good reminder.

While there’s something to be said for easing a player back into the lineup, the Bruins might be better suited without Peverley on that second line. The Lucic-Krejci-Seguin trio has had its issues defensively when it’s been a line, and Seguin’s shortcomings in his own zone aren’t much of a big deal when he’s playing on a line centered by a two-way savant like Bergeron. Peverley is obviously familiar with Krejci and Lucic, so perhaps Julien will give him a look on the line he played on both in the Stanley Cup finals in June and multiple times this season.

If Peverley eventually finds his way back to the Lucic line and Seguin gets back to playing with Bergeron, Sunday’s performance by the third line was the latest to suggest that Julien can’t touch it. While Rolston’s numbers are the flashiest, Pouliot has eight points (three goals, five assists) over his last seven constests while Kelly has seven points (three goals, four assists) over his last five games. The numbers came could leave Paille and Caron as the two that could find themselves on the bubble. It will be a tough call for Julien each time, but as the postseason nears, the B’s would be better served to find a lineup and stick with it.

TURCO'S LAST START AS A BRUIN?

Everyone remembers how Marty Turco’s first start as a Bruin went: Three goals in the first 4:31, Turco yanked, Turco put back in and a myriad of other ugly memories in a night that ended with Steven Stamkos registering his 50th goal of the season on a softie for the ages.

On Wednesday, Turco showed up to Bruins’ practice with new bright yellow pads to match his uniform. Even though his next start could be his last with the team, Turco was ready to look the part for the Bruins.

Turco did just that Sunday. Playing against the Ducks on a night saw Tim Thomas rest after playing in 15 straight games, Turco made 25 saves on 27 shots. He picked up his first victory since Feb. 1, 2011, when he was a member of the Blackhawks.

The question now is when, if at all, Turco plays again for the Bruins. It would be cruel to play him against the Lightning on Tuesday, and if the Bruins were to play anyone but Tim Thomas in any of the team’s final seven games, it would make more sense to call up Anton Khudobin. After all, it’s Khudobin who figures to be the team’s backup in the first round of the playoffs, given that Turco is ineligible for postseason play.

Khudobin had been out with a wrist injury, but made his return to the Providence net with wins on Friday and Saturday. He allowed two goals in each game, stopping 29 pucks Friday against Manchester and 33 more Saturday against Connecticut. With the regular season winding down, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the B’s call Khudobin up to get him some NHL exposure (he's played six NHL games in his career, all with the Wild) before the playoffs begin.

Five of the Bruins’ last seven games are against teams in or pushing for the playoffs, so Saturday against the Islanders may be a good time to give Thomas his next game off. Should Thomas start the other six, he will finish the season with 57 starts, just two more than last season. With 55 games played this season, he is two shy of his mark from a season ago.

Flannery joins Mut to break down the Isaiah Thomas trade to Boston and what it means for the Celtics this season and in the future. Paul also chats with Mut about the other deals that happened at the NBA's trading deadline

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